「隱形少年」現形記：香港御宅族網際網路使用與社會資本建構初探

Exploring Online-Offline Social Capital Construction of the 'Otaku' Youth in Hong Kong

御宅族（otaku）指對漫畫、動畫和電腦遊戲（ACG）具有狂熱並會主動進行研究和創作的青年人群。鑑於學術界對此族群的瞭解有限，本研究以香港地區的御宅族為對象，檢視這一群人對資訊科技的使用，及其線上、線下社會資本的建構過程。結果發現，御宅族並非與社會隔絕的群體，他們是一群資訊精英，對於ACG的狂熱，充分展現在網路媒體與現實生活中的資訊交流、知識分享與貢獻。他們由此所建立和維繫的社會資本，屬於「聚合型（bonding）社會資本」。

'Otaku' is a Japanese term that refers to people with an obsessive interest in animation, comic books, and video games (ACG). This study investigates how the social capital of otaku youths is constructed in Hong Kong. Through focus-group interviews, we discovered that otaku youths were not an 'invisible' group. Rather, their interest in ACG was expressed both online and offline. As 'information elites,' they were generous in the information-sharing process. Otaku youths were also found to adhere strictly to group norms when participating in forums, which creates a high level of trust in the virtual community. Hence, they tend to build 'bonding social capital,' more so than 'bridging social capital,' by connecting with other otakus online and offline.